Dr. Lisa [Itty Bitty Velvet Kitty]

You must do the thing you think you cannot doHome | E-Mail | Add Me | Pics | Blog | Comment | Friends | View Comments Namaste

I am a short and sassy steel magnolia of Spanish and Eastern-European (Lithuanian and Russian) descent. I was raised in foster care from the age of 4 months until I turned 18. I was raised by a foster family whom I consider to be my "real" family. I have very limited contact with the members of my biological family.

I earned my Ph.D. in 2005. I examined the effectiveness and efficacy of independent living programs for youth aging out of foster care. As I side project, I studied the recruitment, training, and retention of foster parents.

While in graduate school, I worked with a team of pediatricians, pediatric anthropologists, and psychologists to develop a pediatric clinic-based reading program to promote early literacy among children and families at the hospital. While working with the literacy project, I interned with the Child Life Program on the pediatric oncology unit.

I currently teach courses to upper division undergraduates. In addition to teaching, I am involved with several human services programs, including facilitating a training program for parent educators who work with parents in recovery and conducting state-mandated co-parenting classes for divorcing and separating parents.

As a foster care alum, I am passionate about my volunteer work as a legal advocate for youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Honestly, I learn more from these youths than I can possibly teach them.

I am part of a large group of researchers studying parental acceptance and rejection internationally. Our team just completed a manuscript that will be published in February 2008.

Other research projects that I am involved with include evaluating the impact of a parenting education program on the parenting efficacy of incarcerated mothers.

I have co-authored two book chapters on mentoring and several articles on foster-care related issues.

I enjoy yoga, meditation, body modification, painting, writing poetry, traveling, photography, motorcycles, and spending quality time with loved ones and friends.

INTERESTS
I enjoy yoga, meditation, body modification, kick boxing, painting, writing poetry, traveling, photography, motorcycles, and spending quality time with loved ones and friends.

My other passions include rebuilding New Orleans, literacy development; family, youth, and child advocacy; pro-active prevention services for youth; foster care policies and services for youth aging out of care; services for GLBTQ youth in foster care; youth mentoring; supports and services for foster families; hospice care for children and adults; animal rights and rescue.

LOOKSHair color: Brown, blond, black, and reddish - yes, all at the same time...
Eye color: Blue
Height: 4'8"
Weight: 80 lbs
Tattoos: Seven. More on the way...
Best features: Eyes, tush, and "The Girls"
PERSONALITY
Nicknames: Lucy, Wednesday, Mona, Bo, Lucinda
Special talents? Yes ;)
Sexual Orientation: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took both
Favorite memory: My brother singing What's New Pussycat
Favorite sounds: Mischa's laugh, cats purring, rain and thunder
Favorite drinks: Green tea, vanilla lattes, Vitaminwater
Favorite food: Apples and peanut butter
Favorite holiday: Halloween
Worst fear: Barney
Worst habit: Potty mouth when angry Favorite occupation: Teaching Most unusual occupation: Modeled as a fairy for a photographer
CONNECTIONS Soul Mate: Mischa
Siblings: Several foster; one biological (possibly more)
Best friends: Mischa, Scott, Bela, Dianne, April, Susan, Mellie
Animal Companions: Loki (cat), Phoebe (cat), Angus (cat), Riley (cat), Jake (cat), Jackson (dog), Lolita (python), and Jolie (cat)
HEROES

My Beloved Mischa, Scott, Bela, Papi, Alan, April, Dianne, Brenda, Karen, Mutti, Evelyn, Jane, Maureen, Mellie, Sandra, Billiam, Gordon, Ron, Nancy, Dorene, Mary, and Rebecca. Thank you for the gifts of your love, laughter, guidance, and friendship.

A tremendous thank you to all of the social workers, case managers, psychologists, and doctors who helped me throughout my childhood. I literally would not be here if not for your support and care. Thank you.

MUSIC

Peter Gabriel, The Who, Beatles, Dave Matthews, Afro Celt Sound System, Amy Winehouse, Angie Aparo, John Legend, Angelique Kidjo, Frank Sinatra, ABBA, Darren Percival, Julia Joseph, Beecake, Alex Lloyd, Tori Amos, Sean Lennon, Sarah McLachlan

I made this music playlist at MyFlashFetish .com.

BOOKS

Advice to Doctors and Other Big People from Kids (1991), Lame Deer: Seeker of Visions (1972), Confederacy of Dunces (1980), Sita's Daughters: Coming Out of Purdah (1993), Girl Interrupted (1994), The Giving Tree (1964), The Velveteen Rabbit (1958), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2004), The Heart Knows Something Different: Teenage Voices from the Foster Care System (1996), Lovely Bones (2002)
FILMS

The Women (1939), Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), Running with Scissors, Infamous, Death Becomes Her, Brazil, The Sixth Sense, The Professional, An Inconvenient Truth, Sicko, Galaxy Quest, Clerks, Donnie Darko, Dogma, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Kinky Boots, Office Space, Kontroll, Fahrenheit 911, Pushing Tin, Rear Window, Arsenic and Old Lace (1949), Rope, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Harvey (1950), Cosi, Groundhog Day, Answered by Fire, Gettin' Square, Fargo, Cinema Paradiso, Desk Set(1957), Sophie's Choice, Little Miss Sunshine, The Princess Bride

Anything by Hitchcock and Python

Namaste



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